Isla looks like she wants to rip my hair out, but before she can, Fraser appears, an arm around Summer.
“I reckon we should get this one home,” he says fondly. “No wonder she barely drinks. She only had one whisky, and look at the absolute state of her. She’s all red and wobbly.”
“I’m notdrunk,” Summer insists. Her eyes narrow on me in a glare. “Just…dissatisfied.”
“No idea what that means,” Fraser says cheerfully. “You coming, Alec?”
I stand, shrugging on my coat. “Aye. Let’s go home.”
“See you next year,” Isla yells after me.
When we make it back to the farmhouse, the place is dark. Cameron stomps into the kitchen, muttering something about making a drink. Fraser unceremoniously tosses Summer over his shoulder and carries her to the sofa.
She spent the entire car ride home squirming in the passenger seat and glaring at me in the rearview. It looks like she’s still just as het up as she was in the pub.
Good.
“My God,” Fraser says, sitting down heavily with her on his lap. “This dress. Did you make it to kill us? Are you an assassin sent to end our lives?”
“Yes,” she says, winding her arms around his neck and giving me the finger behind his back. I have to fight not to laugh. “This was my evil plan. Do you like it?”
“Never stop.” He starts kissing a line down her chest. She moans loudly, arching into him shakily.
He groans, biting her neckline. “God. We need to get you in some jammies and in bed. You’ll wear this dress for me tomorrow, yeah? When you’re nice and sober and I can do whatever I like to you?I’mnot too proud to beg. I’ll get on my knees for you whenever you like.”
“I’m really not drunk,” she insists.
He laughs. “You’re all glassy-eyed and shaky, baby. You can’t sit still. You couldn’t even form full sentences at the pub.”
“I’m not drunk! I’m just, like, violently horny.”
He pauses. “Oh wait, really?” He considers this. “I mean, I know this shirt makes my arms look great, but I didn’t realise it wasthatpowerful.”
“Yes,” she says, eyes flashing. “Because Alec fingered me and then didn’t let me come!” She points at me like she’s accusing me of witchcraft.
I hang up my coat.
Fraser gasps, gathering her to his chest protectively. “What? No! Alec! Why would you do that?”
“She deserved it,” I say. “She came out in a dress that barely covers her arse and no underwear.”
“She’s just…expressing herself through fashion! You are so mean. Come over here and make her come right now. You’ve deprived her of a basic human right.”
Summer nods frantically. “We all have the right to come!”
Fraser shakes his head mournfully. “God, I bet she’ll leave us such a bad Airbnb review now.”
“One star—he edged me and then left me to die,” Summer says grimly.
I smile. I know I should get back to work. I need to call my lawyer and show him the leaflet. I need to work out what the hell I’m going to do about the council.
But I can’t stop myself crossing the room to sit on the coffee table. Summer wriggles on Fraser’s lap, still pouting at me. “I actually don’twantyou to finish me off anymore,” she declares. “I have Fraser now.”
“Aye,” Fraser rumbles, burying his face in the curve of her throat. “Youalwayshave me, baby. I’ll do whatever you want.”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” I say, watching as her breath comes faster.
Her eyes narrow. “No, you’re not.”
